The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency selected for World Book Night 2013

We are delighted to announce that Alexander McCall Smith’s wonderful first novel, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency has been selected by readers as part of World Book Night 2013.

The first of Alexander McCall Smith’s much loved and bestselling Botswana series, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency has become one of the most beloved books of recent years since it was first published in 1998, and introduced the world to the unforgettable Mma Ramotswe. Next year will be the 15th anniversary of the series, and the World Book Night celebrations will mark the highlight of a year of activity and celebration around the books.

World Book Night 2013 launches today with the announcement of the full list of titles, and the official opening of the giver recruitment process. 20,000 members of the public will volunteer to give away 20 copies of one of 20 books on 23rdApril 2013 to help spread a love of reading. In total, 400,000 books will be distributed by individual givers – the equivalent of an average day’s book sales in the UK. An additional 100,000 books will be distributed centrally by World Book Night through charity partners and institutions.

World Book Night CEO Julia Kingsford said:

“Fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary, prize winners and bestsellers; this year’s World Book Night books are united by being brilliantly enjoyable reads. With the help of 20,000 passionate volunteers putting them directly into the hands of those who don’t regularly read, they’ll inspire hundreds of thousands of people across the country to fall in love with reading.”